Putnam Science Academy Preview

Oscar Assie: On a mission for PSA

New England's biggest sleeper

- Under the radar, Under the Radar, Under the Radar...Tom Espinosa's dangerous squad at Putnam Science Academy opens up their season tonight!  The Mustangs will feature an interesting combination of an electric, lightning-quick back-court with a rugged, physically imposing front-line, an equation which reminds of the late 80s-early 90s Detroit Piston Bad Boy squads which had Isaiah Thomas and Joe Dumars ballin' with a bruising front-line of Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Buddha Edwards, John Salley, Dennis Rodman, and Mark Aguirre/Adrian Dantley...Playing the roles of Thomas and Dumars for PSA will be the tandem of Dayshon 'Scoochie' Smith and Johnathan Joseph, a pair who will form one of New England's fastest back-courts this winter.  Smith is a long, talented, crafty floor-general who plays with New York City flair, while Jonathan Joseph is a water-bug point professor who's exciting off the dribble and knows how to use his chess pieces out on the floor...At the forward spots will be the no-nonsense gladiator trio of Shaun Lawton, Tyree Robinson, and Oscar Assie.  Lawton a 6'3+ wing with good length who will be PSA's defensive stopper.  Robinson is a highly-athletic 6'5 enforcer who rebounds the stuffing out of the ball and attacks the rim like a pinata.  And Assie, at 6'5 with a chiseled frame, is an athletic player with the ability to bang with big boys on the interior or step out to the perimeter and shoot the long-ball...Speaking of gladiators, in the middle, PSA will go with Keon Scott, a 6'5 wide-body with long arms who specializes in hunting down taller players and outplaying them.  Keon really knows how to use his big frame to create space in the lane and finish at the cup...After playing the Post School tonight and the Masters School on Wednesday, PSA will head to Marianapolis on Thursday where they'll play three games in the Hoop Mountain Prep Invitational, including a big test on Friday night against high-powered Vermont Academy....Stay tuned for a report on the Putnam Science opener later tonight on the Ship.